Category: Rail

News involving Caltrain, ACE or BART

Transit Events Calendar Now Available…and More

Per reader request, a local transit events calendar has now been installed on the web site.  The calendar will help list public transit, bike/pedestrian, and paratransit events and meetings hosted by other citizen groups throughout Silicon Valley.  This will include our own live group meetings.

Examples of entries already present in the events calendar:

In the future, the Event Calendar will also include Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)-hosted public workshops and public meetings.

Hear about a public transit, bicycle/pedestrian, or paratransit meeting or event in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County?  Please let us know at least 7 days in advance of the event so that it can be added to the event calendar.

One more thing:  there have been reports of people not receiving confirmation email when subscribing to new posts or comments.  When you initially subscribe to be notified of new posts or comments to posts, please check your “Junk Mail,” “Junk E-Mail” or “SPAM” folders for the confirmation email.  That confirmation email is sent to ensure your email address is not being abused in any manner.  Click the URL link in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription; otherwise, ignore and delete the confirmation email.

Enjoy the rest of this big Bay Area concert weekend safely and sanely.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

Sweating Details At A Workshop

This Friday morning promises to be an event for public transit in Silicon Valley. Then, in San Jose, members of the Valley Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors will discuss what will go into a proposed sales tax ballot measure in November. (Adobe Acrobat PDF Document)

Take any VTA bus, light rail or Caltrain? Learn how YOU are affected by the proposal by reading this article from Adina Levin of Green Caltrain.

The VTA Workshop will be webcast LIVE to the public starting at 9am on Friday.

EVENT: VTA Envision Silicon Valley Workshop
DATE & TIME: Friday, April 22nd at 9am
PLACE: VTA Headquarters, 3331 N. First Street, San Jose
GETTING THERE: VTA Headquarters is right next to the River Oaks light rail station.

If at all possible, join us to ensure VTA continues to build a proper transit system for everyone in Santa Clara County – including YOU.  Remember: it will be (more) sales tax money from YOU that will be spent on these transit projects.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

DISCLOSURE: Our group is one of the stakeholders of the Envision Silicon Valley effort.

How YOU Can Help VTA Run On Time More Often

By now, you’ve heard all the stories about traffic increases in Silicon Valley and its effects on local quality of life. Their ongoing affect on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and light rail in Silicon Valley has proven to be one factor in their declining on-time rate. You experience it as your bus or light rail train running later than schedule, causing you to be late for work, school, or other commitments.

More information – and how YOU can help buses and light rail in Silicon Valley run on-time – are below.

Know Before You Board

I encountered one woman on VTA’s 522 Rapid bus today. She was upset that the Palo Alto-bound bus did not stop at El Camino/Warburton in Santa Clara. She paid $2 for riding, and thought the bus was like the regular 22. She was surprised when I told her the bus would not stop until El Camino/Scott. It turned out she did not ask the bus driver if the 522 Rapid bus makes the stop she wanted (which it does not).

When in doubt, ask the bus driver first before boarding any bus. Part of his/her job is to know the bus stops for that route. Better yet, call VTA at (408)321-2300 (or visit their web site) before going on your bus/light rail trip. Knowing before going will save you the embarassment – and money – of missing your destination on transit.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users